A community support program for dementia delayed but did not reduce institutionalization over 2 years.

P a t i e n t s 100 patients who were ≥ 65 years of age (mean age 79 y, 53% women), who were entitled to payments from the Social Insurance Institution for community care because they had dementia, and who lived at home with primary support from an informal caregiver. Exclusion criteria were other severe diseases that might lead to institutionalization or inability of caregivers to participate in annual training courses. Follow-up was 100%.